THE ROOSTING OF THE SPARROWS 



MOST species of birds like to roost in com- 

 panies, partly because it is safer to do so, 

 partly for the sake of companioriship, and 

 sometimes, in England at any rate, be- 

 cause by crowding together they keep each other warm. 

 Birds have their favourite roosting places. Certain 

 trees are patronised while others are not. Perhaps one 

 clump will be utilised every night for a month or longer, 

 then a move will be made to another clump. Later on 

 a return may be made to the original site. I do not 

 know what determines these changes of locality. 



The sunset hour is, I think, the most interesting at 

 which to watch birds. They seem to be livelier then 

 than at any other time of the day ; they are certainly 

 more loquacious. The dormitory of the crows, the 

 mynas, or the green parrots is a perfect pandemonium. 

 Whilst listening to the uproar one can only suppose 

 each member of the colony to be bubbling over with 

 animal spirits and intent on recounting to his fellows 

 all the doings of the day. 



Most people may be inclined to think that it is im- 

 possible to derive much pleasure from observing so 

 common a bird as the sparrow. This is a mistake. 

 Often and often have I watched with the greatest 

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